Evidence Did Not Support Finding of Neglect Based Upon Mother’s Mental Illness and Failure to Take Medication

The Second Department determined the evidence was not sufficient to demonstrate mother's neglect based upon her mental illness and her failure to take medication:

” A finding of neglect may be predicated upon proof that a child's physical, mental, or emotional condition is in imminent danger of becoming impaired as a result of a parent's mental illness'” (… see Family Ct Act § 1012[f][i]). “However, proof of mental illness alone will not support a finding of neglect'; the evidence must establish a causal connection between the parent's condition, and actual or potential harm to the children'” … .

Here, based on our evaluation of the record, and giving deference to the Family Court's credibility determinations …, we find that the petitioner failed to establish, by a preponderance of the evidence, the existence of a causal connection between the mother's mental illness and actual or potential harm to the subject child … . * * *

“Proof of ongoing mental illness and the failure to follow through with aftercare medication, which results in a parent's inability to care for her child in the foreseeable future, is a sufficient basis for a finding of neglect” … . Here, although there was evidence that the mother stopped taking medication after her discharge from Beth Israel, the evidence was insufficient to establish that the mother was unable to care for the child during that period. Matter of Nialani T, 2015 NY Slip Op 00894, 2nd Dept 2-4-15